Refrigeration



July 24, 1928. 1,678,277

'3. c. VON PLATEN ET AL REFRIGERATION Filed Jan. 7, 1928 5 Sheets-Sheet July 24, 1928. 1,678,277

a. c. VON PLATEN ET AL REFRIGERATION Filed Jan. v, 1928 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 "1/ fie/P ATTO Jul 24, 1928. 7 1,678,277

8. C. VON PLATEN ET AL HEFRIGERATIO N Filed Jan. 7, 1928 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 July 24, 1928. 1,678,277

B. C. VON PLATEN ET AL REFRIGERATIQ N Fi1ad'Jan.7, 1928 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 I ENTO fi M July 24, 1928. 1,678,277

- B. c. vou PLATEN ET AL REFRIGERATIO N Filed Jan. 7, 1928 5 sheets-sheet 87 l a /06 v I Patented July 24, 1928.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

BAIlTZAR CARL VON PLATEN AND CARL ,GEORG HUNTERS, F STQCKHOLM, SWEDEN,

ASSIGNORS TO ELEGTROLUXSERVEL CORPORATION, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A. 003- rona'rron or DELAWARE.

This application embodies the subject matter of and relates back to our co-pending application Serial No. 145,048, filed October 29, 1926, and relates back, for common subject matter, to our co-pending applicatlon Serial No. 691,477, filed February 2, 1924-, for which a corres onding application was filed in Sweden on arch 3, 1923, and to the rights incidentthereto. The resent invention relates to the art of refrigerating and .more particularly to artificial refrigeration employing absorption. Still more particularly the invention relates to refrigerating'systems of the kind including a generator, condenser, evaporator and adsorber wherein a cooling agent evaporates in the presence of an auxiliary agent, the auxiliary agent being introduced for the purpose of equalizing the pressure within the system.

Amongst the objects of the invention are to produce high efiiciency in refri erators of the absorption type and particu arly to provide an apparatus without moving parts and with equalized pressure wherein there is an evaporation of a plurality of substances for the roduction of refrigeration while a highly e cient circulation is obtained within the apparatus. Further objects, advantages, characteristics, features and mode of operation of the resent invention will be apparent from the ollowing description taken in consideration with the accompanying drawin s on' which Fig. 1 is amore or less iagrammatic showing of a form of the present invention, illustrating the principles involved; Fig. 2 is a view partly in section of an apparatus built in accordance withthe principles of the invention Fig. 3 is another View of the apparatus shown in Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is a view partly in section of a modified apparatus in accordance with the principles of the invention; and Fig. 5 is another view of the ap aratus shownin Fig 4.

eferring more particularly to Flg. 1, reference character K designates the generator of an absorption system embodying the present invention. The system also includes an absorber A, an evaporator G, and two condensers C, and C The generator and the absorber contain absorption liquid which REFRIGERATION. I

may be, for example, water, and the cooling agent which may be, for example, ammonia, dissolved therein, such generator and absorber being connected to form a circulation circuit for absorption liquid including conduits B and D as will more fully be described. The condenser C is connected with the generator and with the evaporator G by means of conduits E. and F respectively. The condenser C, is connected with the absorber A and with the evaportor G by means of pipes H and I respectively. Both condensers are cooled by cooling water within tank L. Tank L communicates by means of pipe M with the cooling jacket N surroundingthe absorber A. In the example shown, the generator is heated by means of steam, being provided for this purpose with a steam jacket 0.

"aussura Application filed January 7, 1928. Serial 110.245.204.

As auxiliary agent, a substance is used which is insoluble or sparingly soluble in the absorption liquid, while at the same time condensable at ordinary temperature. .Moreover the auxiliary agent should be chemically inert with respect to the cooling agent: A substance filling these requirements when using ammonia as a cooling agent is vprobeen .found suitable for a refrigerating system of this kind is methylamin, preferably monomethylamin, to be used as cooling agent soluble in water and isobutane to be used as auxiliary agent. It may be said that in general the cooling agent and the auxiliary agent should be 'soluble in the adsorption hquid in a widely ldiflerent. degree and both agents should be condensable at ordinary temperatures, for example, 10-30 0. (about 50-90' F.).

The system operates as follows: Ammonia vapor is expelled in the generator K and is low the surface of the liquid in the evapora-' tor and are filled with liquid so as to roduce a liquid 'columnpressure head exc g the static pressure in the absorber and generator. An excess pressure is thusproduced which forces gaseous fluid from the evaporator.

and through the'absorber. Due to the liquid column retaining members I and F the gas mixture formed in the evaporator is caused acter 51. In this apparatus a to pass through a perforated plate P rovided immediately above the gas inlet of the absorber. The gas mixture is thus distributed .in the absorber and brought into close contact with the absorption liquid. In the absorber the cooling agent is absorbed by the absorption liquid and the auxiliary agent is, so to speak, liberated and passes through conduitH to the condenser 0 where it is again converted into liquid form. Ab-

sorption liquid enters the absorber throughconduit B and flows downwardly therethrough in counter-current to the flow of gas therethrough and becomes enriched with.

the cooling agent. The cooling agent passes through conduit D and through coil X into the upper part of generator K. The coil X lightens the vertically extending body of fluid therein so that the s 'fic weight of fluid within the same is less than the speclfic weight'of fluid in the absorber and an automatlc circulation of the absorption liquid is produced through thegenerator and absorber and through conduits B and D in the direction indicated by the arrows.

In the embodiment shown in Figs. 2 and 3rthe generator 50, the absorber and the heat. exchanger connected between the same are like the generator, absorber and heatexchanger of Figs. '2, 3. and complementary figures of otir Patent No. 1,609,334 granted December 7, 1926. Generator 50 of Fig. 2

corresponds to generatorK of Fig. 1. Ab-

sorber 75 of'Fig. 2 corresponds to absorber A of Fig. 1. In normal operation the generator is: filled with asoIution of cooling agent dissolved in absorption liquid to a level of about as indicated by re erence charonia is used as the cooling agent, distilled water as the absorption liquid and propane as the auxiliary agent. The generator has a heating pocket or chamber 52 situated in its lower portion, closed at the top, open at the bot-' tom, welded to the enerator shell 'proper as indicated at 53 an adapted to receive an electric heating unit or resistance 54. Am-

)two conduits corresponds to'the space within tank L of Fig. 1 surrounding conduits C and C Cooling water is supplied to conduit 66 at 69 and is discharged at 71. Condenser 65 of Fig. 2 corresponds to con- .denser C, of Fig. 1. Afterthe ammonla has been condensed in condenser 65 itpasses on through conduit 67 and into evaporator 70.

A conduit 72 extends upwardly from the upper part of the absorber. This conduit 85, corresponds to conduit H of Fig. 1. To the top of this conduit is connected a conduit 80 which is the inner conduit of a second condenser designated generally by referencP character 85. Vapor of propane passes upor wardly through conduit 72 and enters condenser where it is condensed. \Vater is supplied to condenser 85 at 49 and water leaves at 91. This condenser is likewise made up of an inner conduit forming part of the closed refrigeration system and an outer water cooling'conduit. After propane is condensed in condenser 85 it passes through conduit 92 to the era orator 70.

The evaporator is of generalig cylindrical 1w formation and like other parts is preferably made ofsteel. The evaporator comprises an outer shell 74 in which there are a series ofplates or discs '76 which may be of the type described in our Patent No. 1,609,334. The discs retain liquid on' the same. Liquid am monia enters the evaporator through conduit 67 and liquid propane enters the evaporator through conduit" 92. The liquid is admitted to a cup 93 in the upper part of the evape n orator which sets on ,theuppermost discs '76. The liquid 'mixes, overflows over the edge of 0111193111111 flows downward}; from disc 'to disc within the evaporator. he two liquids evaporate in the presence of each other and their vapors diffuse into each other. The complementary evaporation and diffusion. pro uces refrigeration by taking up heat; from the surroundings. Evaporator 70 would -normally be,placed' 1nside a space-or in con- 12o tact with material to be cooled.' The mixture of gases formed in the evaporator passes downwardly,withii the evaporator and is forced through conduit 45 to the bottom of absorber 75. In each of vertically 1 extending conduits 67 and 92 there is formed a liquid column. The height of the-li"quid columnin the apparatus'being described, is indicated b gauge lass 100. "Such a gauge a, glass woul not ordinarily be on an appagenerator and absorber.

ratus but Figs. 2 and 3 are reproduced from an actually tested apparatus in which it was desired to determine just where the liquid levels were. The liquid columns in conduits 67 and 92 cause a higher pressure in the evaporator than in the condensers and in the The higher pressure maintained by these columns serves to force gas out of the evaporator and through liquid in the lower part of the absorber.

In the absorber the ammonia is absorbed by absorption liquid supplied thereto from the generator through conduit 86, the principle of operation being the same, in general, as explained with reference to Fig. 1. The upper portion of the absorber above a disc therein designated by reference character 87 and between the shell 88 of the absorber and conduit '72 forms what may be termed a precooli'ng chamber 89. This precooling chamber 89 has been described in Patent N 0. 1,609,334-to which reference may be had. The absorber is provided with a series of plates or discs 106 which may be like those of the evaporator and which serve to provide a large surface for gas and liquid contact. The absorption liquid passes through the precooling chamber 89 and flows onto the uppermost disc 106 and thence down over the discs. The absorption liquid absorbs the ammonia liberating the propane "and the propane. flows upwardly through conduit 72 and to the condenser 85 whence it'fiows back to the evaporator for repeated transfer to this coil.-

-to coil X of F ig. 1. Conduit 112 is excomplementary diffusion. The absorber is provided with a cooling water jacket 93. The cooling water'is supplied through conduit 111 and is discharged through conduit 98. The absorber and condensers may be connected in series or in parallel or in a combination of series and parallel for circulation of water or other cooling fluid.

Circulation between the generator and absorber is effected in thefollowing manner:

The lower part of the absorber which contains strong absorption liquid is connected with a conduit 112. This'connection is made through a. passageway 113 within'a filling member 114. Conduit 112 is formed into severalloops which encircle the filling memher 114, and the heating pocket-52. This conduit 112 then forms a coil which is indicated by reference character 115, which coil encircles heating pocket 52 and is set into grooves cut in the same, the purpose of the latter arrangement bein to give good heat C oil 115 corresponds tended upwardly beyond coil 115 as designated by reference character 116 and opens into the upperpart of generator 50 above the level of absorption liquid therein. Surrounding the major portion of conduit 112 is a conduit 117 which is welded at its ends to conduit 112 as indicated by reference chargenerator to the absorber.

acter 118. A conduit 119 connects the lower [part of generator 50 with one end of conduit 117 and the other'end of conduit 117 is conduit 116 into generator 50. Supply of ab- 1 sorption liquid to the generator causes a higher level of liquid in the generator than in the absorber and liquid flows by gravity throughconduits 119, 117 and '86, from the There is thus produced a continuous circulation of absorption liquid between the generator and absorber due to the application of heat to coil 115, which is, in effect, an auxiliary generator.

It will be seen that this modification differs from what is shown in Patent No. 1,609,334 particularly in that both the cooling agent and the auxiliary agent are condensed before introduction into the evaporator and that liquid column means operates to produce a higher pressure in the evaporator than in the generator, absorber and condensers which serves to force mixed gas through absorption liquid in the absorber.

In the modification shown in Figs. 4 and 5, the generator, absorber and heat exchanger connecting the same are the same as in the arrangement of Fig. 2. A rectifier is interpo:ed in conduit 56 and is ind cated generally by reference character 55. The rectifier condenses vapor oft-he absorption liquid to prevent such absorption liquid from passing to the evaporator. The rectb fier comprises a series of battles 59 inside the rectifier conduit 56 which are apertured preferably having apertures in ad a cent discs out of alinement. The discs are cut away at the bottom to afford a passagewa for condensed absorption liquid to runbac toward the generator. A series of air cooling fins 57, having collars 58, surround conduit 56 and serve to transmit heat from within conduit 56 out to the atmosphere.

In this modification, the liquid columns in conduits 67 and 92 of Fig. 3 are omitted.

The conden ers discharge directly into a cup 93 at the top of the evaporator and the conduits 67 and 92 do not have any v restricted at its connection with vessel 125 as indicated at 127. The purpose of this vessel is to force into the evaporator any vapor of ammonia which might pass into the'propane condenser and which would not condense in the propane condenser. The gas assembles in vessel 125 and due to the restricted opening 127 alternating gas and liquid slugs are formed which serve to carry the gas entering between portions of liquid through conduit 92 into the evaporator.

Conduit 45 is connected to the absorber above the level of liquid therein. The evaporator and absorber are, therefore, at the same pressure.

While we have described several forms of our invention, it will be understood that many other forms are pos ible and that the principles of operation of the present invention can be. carried out independently of any particular type of refrigerating apparatus.

In this application specific claims are drafted to the modification shown in Fig. 5. Specific claims to the liquid columns shown in the apparati of Figs. 1, 2 and 3 are retained in the parent application Serial No. 691,477. Claims to the broad subject matter are contained in this ap plication.

Having thus described our invention what we claim is:

1. Refrigerating apparatus comprising a generator, a condenser, an evaporator and an absorber forming a circuit fora cooling agent and a second circuit for an auxiliary agent comprising said evaporator, said absorber and a second condenser through which the auxiliary agent passes from the absorber to the evaporator. I

2. Refrigerating apparatus comprising a generator and a condenser for a cooling agent, a condenser for an auxiliary agent, an evaporator, means to conduct condensates from the condensers and mix the condensates in said evaporator. an absorber, means to conduct gas from the evaporator to the absorber, means to absorb the cooling agent and conduct the same from the absorber to the generator and means to conduct the auxauxiliary agent in the presence of each other. to produce refrigeration, absorbing the 0001- ing agent from the evaporated mixture, separatng and again condensing the auxiliary agent, and again separating the cooling agent.

4. The method of refrigerating which comprises evaporating a plurality of substances in liquid form in the presence of each other, separating the substances from each other and separately condensing the substances.

5. The method of refrigerating which comprises separating ammonia in gaseous .form from a solution thereof, condensing the ammonia, mixing the condensed ammonia with liquid propane, evaporating the liquid mixture, absorbing the ammonia into solution, separating the propane from the solution, condensing the propane, again separating the ammonia from the solution and condensing the same and again mixing the ammonia and propane condensates.

6. Refrigerating apparatus comprising a generator, a condenser, an evaporator, and an absorber forming a circuit for a cooling agent and a second circuit for an auxiliary agent comprising said evaporator and a second condenser through which the auxiliary agent passes.

7. Refrigerating apparatus in which a cooling agent circulates comprising a generator, a condenser, an evaporator in which the cooling agent evaporates in the presence of an auxiliary agent, means to absorb the cooling agent and thereby separate it from the auxiliary agent, means to conduct the cooling agent to the .generator and means to condense the auxiliary agent and to return it to the evaporator.

8. That improvement in the art of refrig oration which consists in bringinga mixture of fluids intocontact with a medium having a greater afiinity to one of the fluids of the mixture than another so that one fluid is absorbed and another is liberated and liquefying the liberated fluid to adapt it to be evaporated for obtaining refrigeration.

9. That improvement in the art of refrigeration which consists in bringing a mixture of fluids into contact with a medium having a greater aflinity to one of the fluids of the mixture than another so that one fluid is absorbed and another is liberated, liquefying the liberated fluid, separating the absorbed fluid from said mediumfand introducing the last separated fluid into the presence of the liquefied liberated fluid.

10. A refrigerating system comprising a generator, an evaporator, an absorber, a plurality ofcondensers. a circulation coil, means to conduct vapor from saidgenerator into one of said condensers and to conduct liquid from said one of said condensers to the evaporator, means to conduct vapor from said absorber to another of said condensers and liquid from said other of said condensers into said evaporator, mea'ns to conduct gaseous fluid from said evaporator into said absorber, means to conduct absorption liquid from said generator to said absorber, means to conduct absorption liquid from said absorber to said coil, means to conduct ion fluid from said coil into said generator and means to heat said generator and said coil.

11. A refrigerating system" comprising a generator, an absorber, an evaporator, a plurality of condensers, means to supply fluid to said condensers from said generator and from said absorber, means to conduct fluid from said condensers to said evaporator, a conduit connecting said evaporator with the lower part of said absorber and means for circulating absorption liquid between the generator and absorber including means for introducing liquid into the upper part of said absorber and removing liquid from the lower part of said absorber.

12. Refrigerating apparatus comprising a generator and a condenser for a cooling agent, a condenser for an auxiliary agent,

an evaporator, means to conduct condensates from the condensers and mix the condensates in said evaporator, an absorber, means to conduct gas from the evaporator to the absorber, means to conduct the'auxiliary agent from the absorber to the second mentioned condenser,m'eans for circulating absorption liquid downwardly within said absorber and upwardly outside said absorber, into the generator and from the generator to the absorber and means to conduct the cooling agent from the generator to the first mentioned condenser.

13. Refrigerating apparatus comprising a generator, a condenser, an evaporator, an absorber and conduit connections therebetween forming a circuit for a cooling agent, a second circuit for an auxiliary agent comprising said evaporator, said absorber and a second condenser throu h which the auxiliary agent passes from the absorber to the evaporator, and a third circuit for circulat-' ing absorption liquid downwardly within the absorber, from the lower part of the absorber to the generator and back to the absorber and including an upwardly extending heated portion outside the absorber.

14. The method of refrigerating which oqmprises separating a cooling agent from a solution thereof in a main body of absorption liquid, condensing the cooling agent, condensing an auxiliary agent, evaporating the cooling agent and the auxiliary agent in the presence of each other to produce refrigeration, separating weakened absorption liquid from the main body, absorbing the cooling agent by the separated absorption liquid and separating the same from the auxiliary agent, again condensing the auxiliar agent and returning it to the presence of t e cooling agent, and conveying the separated absorption liquid back to the main body by application of heat to a stream thereof.

15. Refrigerating apparatus comprising a generator, a rectifier, a condenser, an evaporator, and an absorber forming a circuit for a cooling agent and a second circuit for an auxiliary agent comprising said evaporator, said absorber, a second condenser, a gas chamber, means to conduct vapor from said absorber to said second condenser, means to conduit fluid from said second condenser to said gas chamber and a conduit connecting said gas chamber with said evaporator having a restricted portion at the entrance thereof from said gas chamber.

16. Refrigeratin apparatus com rising a generator, a rectifier, a first con enser, an evaporator, an absorber, a second condenser, means for circulating absorption liquid between the generator and absorber, means for conducting vapor from the generator through the rectifier and to said first condenser, means to conduct vapor from said absorber to said second condenser,imeans to conduct liquid from each of said condensers to said evaporator comprising a as chamber interposedbetween said secon condenser and said eva orator and a conduit connection therewit adapted to carry gas between portions of liquid and means to conduct fluid from said evaporator to said absorber.

In testimony whereof we have hereunto afiixed' our signAatures.

BALT R CARL VON PLATEN. CARL GEORG MUNTERS. 

